Donna Karan Spring ‘08: Serious lust

I already have shirtdress on the brain so imagine my reaction upon seeing this shirtdress from Donna Karan at Saks Fifth Avenue. I am head over heels over this dress! Yeah, I know I’d have to be wear one of those uncomfortable convertible bras but it would be sooo worth it! In my ideal world, Hot Patterns would already be working on a pattern inspired by this dress. In the meantime, I’m going to be working on adapting a commercial pattern.

Available at Saks.com for $2895.

Déjà vu all over again

As many of you know, in addition to being a fabriholic, patternaholic and shoeaholic I am also a purseaholic! What can I say? I am just a little bit compulsive! As I was reading one of my favorite purse blogs this morning, I came across this:

It’s a lovely bag from Moe Bags. Look familiar? Let me refresh your memory:
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1940s Vogue Pattern

Sewing Workshop Obi Bag Pattern

I had originally thought to make this bag in velvet but I think the leather is fabulous and better suited for an everyday bag.

Once again…I’m glad I sew!

The three of us have not been anywhere alone together in YEARS so we decided to pop up to Boston tomorrow to catch the Red Sox/Yankees game (go Sox!) and I find myself in need of a light jacket. My closet is sorely lacking since I lost weight and there was not a spare minute to sew anything! Off I went to the Ft. Lauderdale Galleria this afternoon in hopes of finding *something* - ANYTHING that would work well with jeans. I do have a cute little belted jean jacket but denim on top and bottom is just too much in my opinion. I know it’s just a baseball game but, well, I just didn’t want to do it if I didn’t have to.

I have to say, RTW is really not impressing me much right now. Yes, the styles are cute, but, for the most part, they just aren’t very flattering to me. I care about fashion but care more about how it looks on me! I found a lot of double-breasted trench jackets (cute but not so great unless worn closed and belted), full retro styles and enough babydoll styles to make me want to spit up. Lucky for us, we are not at the mercy of RTW manufacturers! And honestly, I haven’t seen that many new patterns that blow my skirt up either so I’m thankful to have a nice stash.

Back to my jacket, I was hoping for a cute nipped-in waist in corduroy, velveteen or suede but it was not to be. I headed to Dillard’s as a last resort and spotted a taupe corduroy blouson zip jacket by Gianni Bini as I got off the escalator. Blouson? Really? Hmmm, I had serious doubts about that being in any way figure-flattering. After I’d scoured every department I decided to just try it on anyway because at this point I was going to have to wear the denim jacket. You know what? It was cute, cute, cute! The updated blouson style is much more slim and trim than it was back in the 70’s, very flattering without being overly fitted. Sure, it’s no Marc Jacobs - I love his jackets but can’t ever button them over the bust anyway - but it was inexpensive and will serve me well for the handful of times I’ll need a jacket here in Florida. I know it looks very young on the model here but imagine it with a pair of jeans instead of the mini skirt!

This is one of those styles that is super quick to whip up because the fitting is so minimal. I have several beautiful corduroys and stretch velveteens in my stash and would love to make a few more so that I have some choices when cooler weather rolls around. In searching for patterns, I found:

Neue Mode 23330 - don’t forget they are going out of business so get it while you can!

Kwik-Sew 3491

Onion 1022

I will probably go with the Onion pattern as I could easily add a yoke and gathers (great if your bust is fuller but you want a trim look) as on the original. Although I do like the princess seams and in-seam pockets of the Neue Mode pattern. Decisions, decision… But, really, any of these would take only minutes to fit and a couple of hours to whip up so stay tuned…

A Sew-Along it is!

Several people have mentioned that it would be fun to take the weekly designer-inspiration piece and have a sew-along! I love that idea! I am going to host the sew-along over at The Sewing Divas. I’ll be using the Hot Patterns Plain & Simple Tee as the base for several designer tops. You can use it or another tried-and-true basic tee pattern.

It will take me a few days to get the materials together so hang in there!

Aren’t you glad you sew? Blumarine

I absolutely love snoop shopping so I thought it might be fun to start a weekly feature showcasing an expensive designer garment that would be easy for us to duplicate (oops, is that a run-on sentence?). Sound like fun?

Today’s garment is a rayon/lycra knit from Blumarine with a retail price of $1,070 (all photos are from eluxury.com). While I would never spend that much on a tee (let’s face it, that’s what it is), it’s important to note the little details that make it special. Details which you and I can easily duplicate in our own sewing rooms for a small fraction of the retail price (so that we can spend the $1000 or so we save on more fabric).

Granted, it would be impossible to find the same print but easy enough to find something that would give the same luxurious feel. The neckline of this top is trimmed in leather - how impractical is that? Since the binding is so narrow, it would be easy to get the same look with a faux leather. I, personally, would choose Ultraleather because it has good stretch across the grain making it perfect for this application. Believe me, no one will know it isn’t the real thing. Additionally, since I cannot get away without a bra, I’d narrow the neckline just a bit to hide my straps.

The neckline is trimmed with two large and eight small crystals at the center front. Yay! An excuse to buy sparkly things!

The sleeve opening is also trimmed out in leather and features button-and-loop closures trimmed with crystals. I have a nice little stash of expensive crystal buttons purchased during my employment at Maggi’s For Fine Fabrics in Boca Raton (known as THE place to buy buttons in the tri-county area). Maggi’s may have closed but I have a good portion of the inventory right here! If they are washable, this might be a good project to use them on since my formalwear days are practically non-existent.

I’m so glad I sew!

I seem to say that at least once a day - don’t you? How cute is this little evening bag? It’s like an adorable little wrist corsage that can also hold your lipstick and keys. Best of all, hands-free! If you have a wad of cash you are itching to get rid of, you can buy this little Bea Valdez creation for a mere $2200 at Barneys. But, I know you won’t. Instead, you’ll gather up about $25 worth of supplies (or finally use up some of those scraps you’ve been saving) and make your own. Then you’ll spend the $2175 you saved on fabric and patterns. Smart girl!