Sewingplums

I wrote a previous post about the current Sports Luxe style, with some patterns for ‘designer’ sweatshirts.
How about some designer style for your fleeces and hoodies 😀

– – –

Pullover Tops

Cutting Line 2 x 4.

Great Copy Yukon Pullover

Great Copy Cascade Mountain pullover

Jalie 2212 half-zip fleece pullover

– – –

Jackets

Christine Johnson Travel Trio Two jacket.

Hot Patterns Classix Nouveau Sportive Skirt Suit.

StyleARC Maggie jacket

Jalie 2795 zip-front hoodie

From the Big4 there’s new Butterick 5698.

McCall’s 5538 and McCall’s 5252 are both yoked styles for pullovers and jackets with hoodie options. And McCall’s 4261 is for a classic gym/ sports wardrobe.

– – –

Something a little more unusual

Shapes Four Good Measure top
(One pattern piece, with one shoulder seam and one side seam.)

Shapes Nine Lives vest

– – –

Interesting. I often don’t pick patterns for raglan styles as I don’t wear them myself. This time I wasn’t deliberately avoiding them, as I think of them as classic for the sports style. But I haven’t found many.

If you’re still dubious about this style : YouLookFab has a new post about ‘loungewear‘ including sweat pants and hoodies.

Use high quality fabrics and trims for a casual Sports Luxe look. Or a modern shine/ sheer/ sequin fabric for a party version of the style. What is your favourite way of feeling and looking relaxed 😀

– – –

Patterns and links available December 2011

= = =

Some months ago, Style.com published a list of Top 10 Must Haves for the winter season.

Time to catch up while winter is still in the future ? . . .
How many of these items have you added to your wardrobe 😀 There are several patterns available for most of these styles.

– – –

Warm Outerwear :

Posher Parka

Yes I love a parka and have a post about parka patterns. The parka picked out by UK Elle was more ‘street’ style than this image. I always wear a parka anyway, so can’t claim it as a high fashion item 😀

Coloured Fur

I’m making a cosy vest of pinky caramel fake fur. Not a bright colour. But it is a type of fake fur you can get in ‘fashion colours’. Anyone want a colour blocked fur jacket in purple, orange, and lime ! It is possible 😀

Waist or high hip length jackets are also in fashion (this one by Michael Kors). Not so good for warmth. And not flattering to my body shape. But marvellous if you have got slim hips ! Several short fur jacket patterns available, such as Simplicity 2150 .

– – –

Indoor Clothes :

Novelty Sweatshirt

I’ve written a post about patterns for these. Part of the Sports Luxe style is the non-sporty trims. This Jason Wu top has wide sleeve stripes in lace rather than athletic fabric. I love wearing loose comfortable tops anyway, so again it’s fashion catching up with me, rather than me following fashion 😀

Pencil Skirt

I would wear a pencil style if I wore a skirt. Bright prints may be fashionable but are too assertive for my taste (and the size of my hips !). And I certainly haven’t got the legs to celebrate with a high thigh slit. Though with my lumpy knees I like the longer length. Try Vogue 8773.

Skinny Ski Pants

Another way of getting a slim leg line, a winter version of ‘jeggings’. Not for me, I haven’t got the legs for skin tight pants. No shortage of slim patterns, especially among McCall’s pants.

I show the whole outfit from Jil Sander. Because Style.com may not mention them, but big patterned ‘Nordic’ and fair isle sweaters are fashionable this season.

Something Sixties

Such as a shapeless shift dress rather than a fitted sheath. This was a ‘new’ shape for the season. Not many patterns available, but I’m planning a post on them.

Notice the odd way of carrying the bag, which at the time of the shows was considered a high fashion point. Don’t know if it has caught on in high fashion circles.

Several of the season’s garments are straight rather than fitted. And suggest a change of proportions, to wearing large tops over slim bottoms. Which hasn’t been so prevalent for a couple of decades. Hopefully this will be a choice rather than a dictate. So people who like to wear straight clothes will not feel guilty and under pressure to change because they’re not wearing tightly fitted ones. Or vice versa.

Anything Patchworked

Wear an interesting combination of prints. I’m a quilter and love making multi-fabric quilts. But this fashion style is not like the patchworkers’ idea of using many small pieces of fabric. Each garment, or each section of a garment such as body and sleeves, is in a different print. An exciting and interesting challenge to combine them.

Notice in this outfit how the all colours and type of line have something in common. (And see the slimming dark side strips. And the glimpses of another colour group – green.) This is by Dries van Noten. Get more multi-fabric inspiration from Koos van den Akker’s Vogue patterns.

– – –

Accessories :

Bright Bag

I’m not a ‘bright’ dresser, though I do like red.

Furry Heels

Not for me. On the runway these were worn with a parka, but I like to wear practical shoes.

Choker

A big necklace. This stunning one is by Alber Elbaz at Lanvin. See McCall’s 6047 and McCall’s 6048 if you’d like to make something similar for the party season, from fabric and buttons. Or Elizabeth Gillett Vogue 8762 for ornamental scarves.

A good way of drawing attention to your face. And adding individuality to a basic dress. Personally my lifestyle doesn’t really have a place for big necklaces. But I do like the current ‘street’ style of big neck warmers and infinity scarves, which visually have the same effect. A neck warmer in fake fur is a quick and easy way of adding that essential touch of fur. See new Butterick 5727 for fur accessories.

– – –

How did you do ? Have you added any of these to your wardrobe 😀

Pick what you love, and let the rest of fashion whizz by as delicious but entirely frivolous even ridiculous entertainment 😀

= = =

All photos from Style.com

Patterns and links available December 2011