Monday Stuff...

So, we had a white-out Saturday and then a stay-at-home-for-no-good-reason Sunday. I had a lot of writing to do for school, so it all worked out. Unfortunately, due to school, I won't have a lot of sewing time till the end of the 1st week of May. C'est la vie...

Anyway, today we decided to venture outside of our home, haha! My 3 y.o. daughter loves feeding the ducks that reside in the pond behind our local library. We made a trip there to pick up some books and she got to feed her friends:

I love her outfit. The skirt was knitted by her grandmother (my MIL), I made the wrap-around oversized scarf, her Ugg-like boots are from Target, and her faux-fur vest is by GAP (do I ever wish they made a women's version of it!).

And I have some flowers it in my yard braving the high altitude Colorado weather!

Have a great week!

Pleated Cuffed Pants

In the pictures the pant is worn with my favorite Raybans, a racerback tank made by me, an Alice and Olivia Vest and Max De Carlo pumps (a great deal from Marshall's).

Inspiration:
Generally, I do not like pants with pleated fronts and never thought I would make one! When the first pleated front pants started sneaking up on me from the web and the magazines, I ignored them with slight detest. That is, untill I saw this Helmut Lang's number on the left.

Later, when I was determining the details, I looked at many RTW pieces.

Pattern:
Burda WOF 2008-02-121, s. 36
This pattern was part of my “Rediscovering Burda WOF 2008” project and I am glad I found it.

Pattern Alterations for fit:
Surprisingly, none whatsoever…
If I was going for a more fitted look, then I would have taken 1.5” from the CB.

Design Driven Pattern Modifications:
Tapered the pant leg to where the hem circ. was 14.75”.
Decreased the inseam to 25.5” and added 4” for cuffs.
Decreased the waistband width to 1.75”.
Added an actual front fly.
Extended the front pocket to the CF.

Fabric:
Lightweight black wool from Textile-o-philes (a local fabric store).

Construction details:
The front pleats are sewn in 2”. This eliminates bulk right below the waistline.

Key elements are topstitched by hand.
Pockets:

Cuffs: loosely pressed for an undone chic:


Conclusion:
About the pattern: A very well drafted one!
As for everything else, I like the pants and the style. Will make it from a charcoal silk shortly, much like DVF made her Allen pant from silk charmeuse.

What I Wore to School Today

I am thinking of posting occasionally some daily outfits. I think it may be a good idea if only for me to see what I actually wear and what I don't. Also, it may be a good way to track how much and how I wear what I make.
This is my "going to school" look as of today. Nothing from what is on me today is made by me, but anyway, I am wearing my favorite ankle booties by Ash, a thrifted necklace, BR blazer, and Martin and Osa shirt.

Shoe Habits

A girl has to feed her show habit (sometimes only visually unfortunately). Besides, shoes are my chocolate!

There are quite a few shoe trends right now, but I like the overall "dangerously sexy woman" feeling/undertone that the SS'09 shoe collections have.

Here are some of my favourites. The prices range from $150 to $1500 (the ISL beauties).

Flats:

by G. Zanotti, Prada, and Ash:

I don't wear flats much, yet, I am dying for the Ash studded number!

I read today that Carine Roitfeld (the editor of the French Vogue) had taught her daughter (Julia Restoin-Roitfeld) to always wear heels and frowned upon Julia's showing up in flats. I am not so extreme about heels, yet I do prefer them. I quess at 5'3" i have to!

So, check out these heels:

by Stella McCartney, G. Zanotti, Margiela, Blahnik, Ash, and Ash again:

I think the Margiela open-toe bootie (the 3rd) is SO gorgeous and likely easy to walk in actually!

The red high-heel sneaker also come in a canvas color and I am so tempted... I don't wear sneaker but if I have a high-heels one, who knows!

by Dior, Chloe, Linea Paolo, and Ash:

I am not very fond of the shape of the Dior shoe, but the graphic on it is a killer.

As far as the last one by Ash, I wish they had made the shaft an inch shorter. For me, at least, that 1" less would hava made the shoes more wearable.
And the best for last...

Now, if you really care for me, get me one of these:

by ISL, Ann Demeulemeester, and Ash...

I may never have the opportunity to wear the ISL caged booties in Colorado Springs but they are so beautiful, so architectural, that will be exhibitted in my house as a piece of art. They ARE a piece of art...

BTW, Ash ( believe Italian) is a brand that comes at $150-$300 pricepoint but looks so much more expensive. In the winter I bought a pair of gray suede booties by Ash from shopbop.com, have worn them a lot, and every time I wear them I would be complimented 3-5 times during the day. That is the only pair of shoes I own that has demaned such continuous positive attention. Nordstrom and shopbop.com carry Ash. Perhaps others do too.

Do you like any of these?

What Inspires Me These Days

I have been browsing fashion related sites lately and wanted to share what inspires me lately.

Helmut Lang tops the list. I want to have everything he makes! It is so urban, effortless, modern! So right!

I have some ideas of H. Lang-ish outfits of my own. Will post about that later!

I came upon harputsown.com by accident. Their stuff is urban, minimalstic, multifucntional, and ingenious. And check out the swacket!

Have you ever felt like you must have something? Yes, I feel this was about this leather dress:

Lastly, alldressedup.com

Their collection is so different than what I would typically go for, yet it is beutiful and inspiring. The way they use texture in their accessories:

The color, shape, layering int he clothing:

If I owned a boutique I'd carry this line, for sure!

Thanks, Everyone...

Thanks to everyone for the support!
The jacket is a fiasco, I do not have anough fabric to do it again. I had preshrunk both fabric and interfacing, however, I guess, some fabrics are just not meant to be fused.
Anyway, once the semester is over I 'll try it again, in a more spring-summery fabric, and hopefully it would work.
I have two completed projects (from before the jacker fiasco) I have to blog about (pants and a top) but have to take pictures first.
Thanks again to everyone for the support.
I have a question... If I am to use sew-in interfacing, what type do I have to buy? Specifically, what do you use if you are using light- to medium weight fabric? Do you still use Hymo? If yes, which parts do you apply to?

Crashed...

Remember when some time ago I posted about a muslin for a boyfriend blazer? Well, I worked some more on the muslin, ordered fabric, made the blazer, the lining... The only thing I had to do was to attach the lining to the blazer. Then, the fusible interfacing started bubbling...
I have been sewing since the early 80s and have never had this happen to me before. I have used this intefacings before successfully, so my guess would be the fabric was the reason. The fabric was wool, so maybe that is why...
It is so sad because I used my entire spring break to male it and who knows when I have the same chunk of time to dod it again, if i do it again.
On the upside, the fit is great, it looks awesome on me, I learned how to make a chest pocket, a new technique for making a notched lapel, and a back vent technique.
Still though, if you have ever attempted a tailored blazer, you know how much work goes into it to get it to where you have to attach the lining, and I just ...OMG... I cannot believe it...