Skirt and Vest

I finally put the finishing touches on this outfit about a month ago.  The dress form in this photo doesn't quite do the vest justice...I bought the dress form on the internet recently for a future project (not to actually use when sewing this outfit) and it is a little too...busty. 

This was the first time I used a store bought pattern and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be!  I have a lot more respect now for all the ladies and men at the fabric store who use them.  Fortunately, my mom helped translate some of the directions and my friend at work reassured me that clothing pattern sizes are not equivalent to the sizes you buy at the store.  (Thank goodness.) I used the pattern below for the skirt and traced an existing vest I owned to create the gray one, so there wasn't much creativity involved.  The only real modification I made was to sew a much needed lining for the skirt.

I wasn't entirely happy with the back bottom part of the vest, but this was only my third project using a sewing machine, so it is what it is, I guess.  I wouldn't sew work clothes on a regular basis, as the process was neither time nor cost efficient, but the sewing practice was invaluable.  This outfit may be a little more Diana Prince-like, but the next one will be totally Diana, Princess of Themyscira.  Next project- Wonder Woman skirt!