Inspiration...Midi Shirtdress

 Springtime inspiration continues:

This is the Faux-Wrap Cotton-Line Midi Shirtdress by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $1,198.00. Details:  Approximately 50-inches from shoulder to hem, surplice neckline with spread collar, short sleeves, waist self-tie, on-seam pockets, hem fails below the knee, a-line silhouette, cotton-linen fabric, unlined, machine wash cold.   For reference, model is 5'10".

I love this dress.  I really wish I had the ability to see it in person so I could feel the fabric. It should be easy to care for.  I looked around a bit for fabric.  Vogue Fabric has a little bit of linen/cotton from Tori Richards in a print.  Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics had a huge selection of cotton/linen fabrics.  There could be fabric substitutions since this particular blend seems hard to locate in the US.

Now for the pattern, I have found an almost duplicate of the dress:

This is Butterick 5030 and View D is the look.  This is a wrap dress and not a faux wrap dress.  So how do you get the faux wrap.  I found this discussion on changing a wrap dress to a faux wrap dress.  Maybe it will be of use.  Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Sleeveless Crepe Shirt

 Spring/Summer will be here before you know it.  Plan ahead and you might have a chance to have the wardrobe ready to go with it hits.  Hot weather is really hard on me and over the last couple of years I have really turned to sleeveless items.  Here is a great sleeveless shirt with matching pants:

This is the Akris Punto Lightweight Techno Crepe Blouse.  Price tag: $440.00.  Details:  button front, sleeveless, side slit details, hip length, relaxed fit.   The model is 5'10" for reference.

They do not say anything about the collar but when you look up close at it, the collar seems to be a little longer similar to 70s styling but not quite as pointy.  What do you think of the matchy matchy with the pants?  This type of look tends to make you look leaner and taller.  Check Neiman Marcus website if you are interested in a closer look.

For the pattern, I am going to stick with tried and true:

This is the Liesl & Co Classic Shirt pattern.  For me, this is a classic shirt and I have it already fitted which is important.  Obviously, this is not sleeveless.  Here are instructions from another company showing how to make a button down sleeveless.  Do doubt there are other instructions available.  The only other changes that I see would be to straighten the hem and make side slits.

If you do not want to go to all the trouble of making pattern changes, the Seamwork (affiliate link) Willis shirt will work:

Version 2 of this pattern is very similar to the inspiration pattern.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Jacket + Skirt

 Today's inspiration is for those who like to dress up.  I love this look:

This is Akris Yarn Dyed Cotton Short Jacket.  Price tag: $2990.00.  Details:  70s inspiration, round neck, button front, long sleeves with button cuffs, front patch pockets, hip length, relaxed fit, fabric - cotton/nylon/polyamide/elastine, lining - cupro.

This is Akris Pencil Skirt with Side Slits.  Price tag: $995.00.  Details: high rise, side zip closure, hem hits around the knee, a-line silhouette, side slits, fabric - cotton/nylon/polyamide/elastine, lining - viscose/elastine.  

This is like the perfect suit in the 80s and maybe the early 90s.  I suppose I was too young in the 70s to have notice this type of dressing. I would have thought that it was old lady stuff. I am an old lady now and would love to be wearing this minus those heels.

I do not think I can locate a good skirt pattern for this.  You will really have to dig back into the 80s/90s patterns to come close.  The jacket pattern is easy:

This is Vogue 7975 and it is an available pattern on the Simplicity site.  Easy peasy, right?  You will need to add a hidden placket to the front and add cuffs to the sleeves but it is all doable.  Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Colorblock Tunic

 Springtime inspiration is continuing.  This is an interesting tunic:

This is the Cotton Popeline Colorblock Kodak-Stripe Tunic by Akris Punto.  Price tag: $695.00.  Details:  Kent collar, button front closure, 3/4 sleeves, dropped shoulders, front patch pocket, rounded hem, relaxed fit.  Here is a look at the back: 

The back has an interesting pleat.  It looks like it comes down from the collar seam and opens just below the shoulder blades.  In looking at the front, I can also see a hidden button placket.  Be sure to zoom in the left side where the pocket is.  It is an interesting shape and perfectly matched the pattern.

As far as patterns, I think I would be tempted to try the Liesl & Co Classic Shirt but I am not sure how to get the "oversized" look correct.  I am sure it is more than making the next size larger.  The Seamwork Rachel (affililate) has a back that is drafted with the pleat.  Here is the line drawing:

For those wondering what a Kent collar is, it is a standard business collar.  Yes, I had to look it up to make sure there was not something special about it.  

Do you know of a better pattern for this?  Let me know if you do.

Happy Stitching!
  

Inspiration...Sleeveless Dress

 Oh, those 70s styles.  I do not actually remember this type of dress in the 70s but I was doing my own thing back then.  Here is a super cute dress:

This is the Akris 70's Inspired Wool Short Dress. Price tag: $1990.00. Details:  double-faced wool, round neckline, sleeveless, concealed back zip, worked in waist belt, hem fails above the knee, a-line silhouette, lined with viscose/silk.

An exact pattern will never be found of this beauty but I did think of this pattern:

This is an older Vogue pattern. It is from 1996 and View C bodice with View B skirt would give you a great likeness to the inspiration photo.  Now, you know how old some of my patterns are.  Yes, this pattern does include the lining information.  

If you check Neiman Marcus for the dress, be sure to zoom in so that you can see some of the details.  The above pattern does have a waistline so it would be possible to duplicate the "worked in waist belt".  Also, there are other dresses in similar silhouettes made in different materials.  Well, worth your time to explore.  Really if we are going to duplicate RTW, then go high end.  

Hope you are inspired to sew something beautiful for yourself.

Happy Stitching!

(Be sure to check my Destashify store. I am uploading new patterns monthly. Really it is hard to give up my collection as it gives me great joy but it is time for someone else to enjoy.)