Sewingplums

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.

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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 .

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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.

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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.

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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 😀

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All photos from Style.com

Patterns and links available December 2011

Style.com’s “Top 10 Must Haves for Fall 2011” include a ‘novelty sweatshirt’.

Jason Wu, with black lace down the sleeves.
Style.com photo

I thought “oh, dear – there’s an idea that’s open to mis-interpretation, that can encourage a lot of slurpy outfits”. Poor Tim Gunn, valiantly trying to get people out of wearing sweatshirts and flip-flops.

Then UK Elle December 2011 issue published some photos. Which make it clear the idea is not to be well dressed and comfortable while active. The aim is to look very fashionable, and as if what you are wearing could not possibly have been made in a sweat shop using the cheapest materials and quickest techniques. Nothing to do with being comfortable, either physically or socially.

Here are the extremes, wearable to a big city high-concept occasion perhaps.

UK Elle December 2011

(That beaded upper section in the lower right photo is a separate garment.)

Well, ignore the over-styling and don’t look at the shoes.

Vivienne Westwood

Then you can see the rest are actually sporty classics, just made in current shines, sheers, and leather.

UK Elle December 2011

(Lower right those are leather bra and sequin and lace shorts.)

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So, if you do want to be comfortable and active in your sweatshirt, but still look as if a designer was involved at some stage, here are some possible patterns.

Of course, there are huge numbers of fitted designer T-shirt patterns. These are some for looser tees and sweats. Suggestions for fleeces and hoodies later. (Lots of patterns for yoga/ sweat pants too, but I’m ignoring them as I’ve always hated that style for some reason.)

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Hot Patterns Weekender Chilled-Out Sweat Suit.

Hot Patterns Plain and Simple Relaxed T Shirts.

Hot Patterns Plain and Simple Rib Trim Sweaters.

Hot Patterns Metropolitan Sweaters.

Christine Johnson Travel Trio Two top.

Christine Johnson Three Tees.

Loes Hinse Boat Neck top.

Loes Hinse Cowl top.

Sewing Workshop Hudson top.

StyleARC Bali Bindi Tunic.

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Want something a little more girly ? have a look at more of the Hot Patterns tops.

Even Chanel is showing a ‘polo’ top this season.

Chanel ad

For extreme Sports Luxe you can get skis with the Chanel logo for $4000. If you don’t want to go that far, copy the polo top by widening the placket and collar on Jalie 2562.

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Black, white, grey, tan – Hmmm

Bright colour blocking, and multi-print combinations are also high trend !
The colours available here in sweatshirt fleece are fairly conventional, but there are more interesting colours and fun prints in fleece, and I’m planning a post on patterns for fleeces and hoodies.

Use high quality fabrics and enjoy feeling and looking both relaxed and active.

Or, if this style makes you less than enthusiastic, Imogen Lamport suggests you wear a dress every day in December 😀

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Patterns and links available December 2011

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Are you disappointed by the simplicity of most current styles ? Would you like to be more exuberant with fabric? There are some designers who meet your needs.

Haider Ackermann is king of the catwalk drapes this season (much ‘rock chick’ as well).

And Elie Saab is king of the body fitting red carpet version. Mainly lace in his couture collection this season.

There are several patterns in this style, especially in the last couple of pattern issues. Nearly all for dresses.

And all for knits. It is possible to drape in wovens, especially good crepes. But it does need care with fitting to a specific body shape, so the drapes fall properly. Not something to be made quickly.

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Dresses with draped necklines

DKNY Vogue 1250

Suzi Chin Butterick 5674

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Dresses with drapes crossing at the waist

Vena Cava Vogue 1258

Michael Kors Vogue 1191

Donna Karan Vogue 1087

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Dresses with draping to side waist

There have always been many patterns which simply drape to side waist. Here are a couple of new ones.

Suzi Chin Butterick 5675

Badgley Mischka Vogue 1256

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Body fitting dresses

Tracy Reese Vogue 1253

Tracy Reese Vogue 1252

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Tops

Butterick 5563 is a top pattern that looks easy and interesting.

And here’s a new pattern from Hot Patterns, the Weekender Triple Torque knit tops.

Or how about this, for people who think two-piece dresses are essentially dowdy 😀 Donna Karan Vogue 1259

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Japanese pattern books

If you enjoy a puzzle, there are a couple of Japanese pattern books. Instructions in Japanese. . . I haven’t seen these specific books, but other similar books have full sized traceable pattern sheets, and excellent illustrations in the instructions.

Drape Drape Dresses

Drape Drape Dresses 2

(P.S. There’s now a Drape Drape 3.)

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Mostly not for beginners ! but there are plenty of ways of having fun with drapey style if this is right for you 😀

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Designer photos from Style.com
Patterns and links available September 2011

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