Haltering

A little bit ago, Lovely Lara had this post up.  (scroll down to the bottom of the post for the relevant portion)

Man.  Huzzah isn't the half of it. 

I'm almost two decades older than she is, but I was a teenager in the '70s, and as such, that hippie-halter/ripped clothing style is indelibly ingrained into my being. When I saw her in that, it appealed to my sensibilities -- not for me, but for my daughter.  I thought, (me = Yankee, remember?) what a great way to make use of those boxy, oversized t-shirts that she is given all the time for working or volunteering for various events on campus.  Many of those big t-shirts get handed down to me, since I sleep in tees.  She won't wear them past the event that she was required to wear them, because they're big and unfitted and unflattering to her.  But they're FREE.  (well, free but for the cost of tuition, which.....um. yeah. NOT. Details, details.)

We also have drawers and drawers full of other t-shirts that we've accumulated over the years, many of them at thrift shops, and they either go unworn, or I wear them as sleep shirts, or once in a while for gardening. 

So in a fit of rampant, out-of-control consumerism, I impulsively logged on to Overstock.com and bought the book Lara mentions in her post.  As she told me in an email, some of the stuff in there is great, some not.  But that's true with every book, innit. 

And most of it requires NO SEWING.  Just cutting.  Right up my alley.  I have little patience for sewing.  (although I'm now considering getting a sewing machine, to make more creations from, you guessed it....free t-shirts and other thrift-shop finds. I'm stopping to gnaw on this one for a while before actually making any rash purchases.)

And then the brutally hot weather descended upon the Nawth Country. I wanted to be completely unclothed, but since I have neighbors, that would not do.  Perfect weather for a halter, even for a woman of a certain age.

You know I'm no Lara, but I gotta tell you, I've had tons of fun making these things, and the wearing is NICE for these awful days.  It took almost no time to make this.  I don't know how well it would hold up to machine washing.  With some sewing reinforcement and embellishments like Lara used on the back of hers, they could be made more durable. But comfortable, comfortable, comfortable -- and modest enough -- in the sweltering heat. And did I mention, FREE? I have slept in and bummed around the house in this t-shirt for at least five years.  I originally got it for free at a place we used to go to that unfortunately no longer exists.  We'd get two garbage bags full of clothes for $2 or $3.  I think I got my money's worth out of this t-shirt.  After I saw this picture, I fixed up the back so it was aligned better and pulled in tighter.

My daughter was delighted and has ordered several.  I've already made her one two.   (No. 1)

It's like the one in the picture next to it, but I'll probably also make her one like mine, as well as some others.  There's a whole pile of t-shirts spread out on the floor of her bedroom at the moment.    I told her she could take the book to campus with her, where I'm sure it'll be a big hit.  If the weather stays like this, when she first gets to campus late next week, it's going to be unbearably hot.

Every unbearably hot philosophy major should have one of these, don't you think?

(No. 2)

The mnemonic contest is still open, until Friday at 6 p.m.  Abigail says she loves your ideas.  Leave your entries in the comments to that post, please.  (Wednesday, August 2)

Comments

[Cookie]

Sexy Norma!

What a great idea.

[Kristen]

Damn, girlfriend! I say flaunt it if you got it and you certainly do!

[Kristen]

OK, OK, so I really say "flaunt it tastefully"--what can I say, I'm gettin' old and turnin' "prudy"

[Dave Daniels]

Well, look at you and your Yankee frugality, complete with milky-smooth skin and perky bosooms! Like mother like daughter, she'll be able to show off her killer figure in an outfit like that. (Warning to you: don't be wearing that to garden in, ol' farmer Jones may get the wrong idea!)

[KT]

WHOAA! You just burned a hole through my monitor. Hot, sister, H-O-T!

[Cara]

DAYUM Norma! Baby got back, no?

[Carole]

Norma. You are SO HOT! Love the t-shirts turned halter.

[Kim]

What a great way to recycle!! You look terrific, you hot little consumer, you. Way to boost the economy, girlfriend. ;)
xoxo

[Kathleen]

Norma, you look good! I love it! Well done. Gracie loves that skin tight stuff...makes me nuts. I am a bit more conservative in style. I only expose cleavage--now that I got some!

[denny Mcmillan]

Is that you in the the halter top? Wear that" sleeping shirt "to bed and just see how much" sleeping" gets done!

dennyx0xx00

[Jenn]

Yeay! I'm so glad you blogged this, Cousin. You're looking very hot over there, lady.

[sandy]

THAT is one way to kick rampant comsumerism in it's ASS, girlfriend!
:)
You are HOT!
Even if it's cool.
xo

[regina]

Norma, you babe, you! that is so badass. I've had that book on my Amazon wishlist for a little while but after seeing your photos i think i may have to just mosey over to the local bookstore and pick it up. After all, it's 100 degrees here today, so a halter makes perfect sense. Love the mnemonics! Hilarious.

[Chelle]

You look good. Very good. And that was fast to make, huh?

[jessica~]

Good god woman! You are so dang talented!
Tee's look great!!

[Elizabeth]

As I've alreay said, Va va va voom!
I'm sitting here trying to figure it out, mainly the pulling in the bagginess part at the bottom.
I never wear T's although I have a few gifted ones hanging about. Love the Plato one!
Remember the halter tops from the bandanas? I made those in my ahem...youth and the sleeved version (two more bandanas)

[Carrie]

Way cute. Someday, I'll wear something like that. (And someone will say, "DAMN, that is ONE BIG SAUSAGE.")

[margene]

Hmmm, I've got a TON of t-shirts!
You do look HOT.

[cari]

Hmmmm...wheels turning...eyes T-shirt (sleep shirt) drawer...

[Katherine]

Wow. Now I want the book, just like everyone else, and would also like, please, to look as good as you do it my creations. I have a tattoo right in the center of my back that just isn't getting enough air-time...

You'll probably be getting orders from Abigail's friends as soon as the semester starts.

What's with the book "Generation S.L.U.T." coming up right next to Generation T?

[Lisa]

Great tops! And I think I saw that book at B&N the other day...

By the way, I keep meaning to write and tell you how happy I am that Vincent is doing better!!

[Betsy]

You know i saw that book last night and thought noooooooo not me, now I wonder about others out there.............................

[Sara]

Oh my goodness is this a hot idea!

[Dorothy B]

That is one great idea. I was just going to rip mine into strips and knit up a bathmat, but now, I'm intrigued. Especially if it's a no-sew project.

[Lee Ann]

Holy shit. Between you and Franklin today, I think my eyes are falling out.

[Chris]

Hubba hubba hubba. Must get book. So many t-shirts...

[Birdsong]

Great idea! I'm too short for those tshirts and can certainly relate to turning them into something cute and useful; too bad I don't have the same figure as in my old hippie days.

[Scout]

Jaysus. Look at that hawt body!

I need to look into that book!

[Abigail]

*Sigh*...I guess I'll even model them for your blog when i get home. Although...it'll cost you. I'm famous now, dontchaknow?

[michelle]

Is your new gardening attire Norma? ; )