Showing posts with label Oscar de la Renta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oscar de la Renta. Show all posts

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Singer Perfect Plus - update

I am excited to say that I have been on a bit of a roll sewing wise.  It is interesting to note (well, it is for me anyway!!) that I work better when I have a number of items cut our and ready to go.  It can take a good day or so to get lots cut out and then I can disappear into my sewing room and can work for ten minutes, three hours, whatever time I have available.  So, when I cut out Mr. SDSC's shirt, and my Chartreuse Sorbetto dress, I also cut out a couple of pairs of trousers and a top for myself.  And here are the results!


First up is a pair of grey trousers made out of suiting with a touch of lycra.  They hang really well, but are a little too heavy for the summer - they will be really warm in the winter.  I put side pockets in these and I am not that happy with them.  Pockets don't excite me like they do with others, so I will probably not put them in the next pair.


Just look at how they hang at the back (forget the dodgy pocket peeking out on the left!), I am just thrilled that they don't bunch up under my butt like my old RTW trousers do.  I used McCalls 5239 again - I love that pattern!

Hey, I hear you shout - that's a cute top . . . you know what, I have all sorts of conversations in my head, and I guess this is one of them . . . well thank-you!  I really want to make a great co-ordinated work wardrobe.  Although I work in an environment where casual clothing is acceptable, I personally like to dress up a bit and 'look the part'.  Using the information and suggestions in the Singer Perfect Plus book, I made the 'shapely shirt' out of some cotton with lovely woven thick and thin stripes.  I made a number of alterations such as a FBA, sway back and rounded back adjustment.  All in all, I am happy with this.  Seeing the photos of the back, it looks as though I can take in the excess fabric under the swayback adjustment - you can see it in the photo above where the fabric sticks out and catches the light.  I like the cute little sleeves and I love a collar on my tops as they help disguise my rounded upper back.

As with Mr. SDSC's shirt, I used my old, old, Singer Featherweight and buttonholer attachment to make the buttonholes.  Boy that is a good combination!

The other pair of trousers are from some black suiting that has woven black on black stripes that you cannot see in these photos, but they do look rather smart.



Again, I am really please with how they hang, and I am happy to be able to knock these out with some consistency, quickly and easily.

The same pattern (with more generous seam allowances) also made these jimmy jam trousers:


And the cute socks?  They were a 'mystery sock pattern' on Ravelry.  They have little glass beads down the side and are very soft and smooshy!



Well, having polished off that sewing, I am ready to have another cutting out marathon.  I have three lengths of linen/rayon in grey, natural and chartreuse, so I plan to cut out a 'shapely blouse' and a Sorbetto from each of the lengths.


These will be part of my 'Antipodean Adventure' collection for my trip to Australia.  The blouse and the Sorbetto can be worn on their own, or layered with the blouse acting as a lightweight jacket.  I also have fabric for three more shirts for Mr. SDSC and finally, oh yes finally, I am going to cut out my Oscar de la Renta shift dress.  The fabric has been washed (a 70/30 wool/silk houndstooth) that I planned to make for the Pattern Review RTW competition that  never made.  Here is the original version that I love so much!


So there we go, that should keep me busy for a while - what about you?

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Pattern Review Contest - RTW Designer Knockoff Contest 2013

I have sooo been looking forward to this challenge on PatternReview! I am just finishing up my Sorbettos for the 'One pattern Many Looks' contest, and my mind is flitting over designs for this one!

RTW/Designer Knockoff Contest

Here are my top three contenders:

1.  Oscar de la Renta shift dress. I have some lovely herringbone fabric (wool and silk I think).  the original is all silk.  The outline is a simple one but it would certainly be better fitted fo my 'not quite model' shape! FBA, forward shoulders, swayback, length etc. I actually saw this for sale in a local high end department store (Holt Renfrew) for CAD 2000 and I thought that it looked better on the hanger than on the model . . . . if this is the winner then I may have to sashay through the shop and see if any of the salepersons comment (prior to me being arrested for sashaysing of course!!).  I should also mention that I am totally inspired by Carolyn and the fabulous dresses that she makes!



2. Haider Ackerman Jones Coat.  This really appeals to me, and having the option to mix fabrics and make a semi-fitted cardigan sounds like fun.  This is online for sale for an eye-watering CAD 4165!  For the pattern I would use my McCalls 4462 pattern fitted to me in my Fit Sew Well class from last year.  It appears to be made of cotton with 'silk trim'.  Mine is likely to be suiting of some kind.  I have not thought too much about fabrics yet - maybe even a ponte knit.  mmmm!



3. YSL Dress.  how cute is this?  I love a flirty skirt, and this certainly has one!  I saw it on the www.mytheresa.com website but as it is all sold out, I cannot find a proper link or further fabric details.  I really should be more diligent - but I guess this gives me more artistic licence!  It was for sale for USD 1829.  I do have some tartan in my stash from my Mother's collection and would probably consider velvet rather than shiney stuff around the hips.  The rest?  I am not too sure yet.  As far as a pattern is concerned, it will be the same as mentioned above.  



So there we go - what do you think?  Anyone else taking part?