Annie's Trunk Show: Picking Up the Pieces

I put this outfit together for a recent destination wedding that my husband and I attended in Barbados in October 2011. The pieces came together in an interesting way. I began work on the linen handkerchief hem skirt in the summer with no particular occasion in mind. Using an OOP pattern (Vogue 7856), I top-stitched many seams and the hem using two threads, lined the skirt with a washed rayon, and finished the hem with a narrow serged edge. (Oddly enough, I had made the same skirt from silk chiffon for another destination wedding eight years ago.) For many years, I have owned the black silk satin bustier with fun dots which came from Kay Unger via T.J.Maxx. Hoping to take this piece to a new level, I was inspired to make the ruffle when I unexpectedly came across a lovely piece of silk charmeuse in my stash. (Who says sewists don't need their stashes!) So I dusted off my old ruffler and this is the result. The necklace was made by Donna Meyer and showed up unexpectedly to complete the ensemble.